16. It happened
to ham radio
operators
and it’s starting
to happen
now.
17. Examples
• 2005 - Telus blocks union site during strike
• 2006 - AOL blocks anti-AOL website
• 2006 - Cox Cable blocks craigslist
• 2007 - Verizon blocks text messages from pro-
choice group
• 2007 - Comcast throttles BitTorrent traffic
• 2008 - Rogers and Bell throttle bandwidth
18. Why Does it Matter
for News?
• Reduces diversity of voices
• Accelerates concentration of media ownership
• Links media, industry and government
• Turns a public utility into a corporate
playground
• Harms democracy
• Stifles innovation
19. What’s Being Done?
• SaveOurNet.org
• moveon.org
• Michael Geist
• CAIP
• Charlie Angus, NDP